Ternate - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

TERNATE 250
APPENDICES
Thursday, February 20. Shocks were felt the whole day long, and last night as well.
At six o’clock in the evening, after the mountain had already emitted some smoke, an
enormous column of smoke suddenly soared upward, and for about half an hour a strong
blaze could be seen.
Friday, February 21. Two shocks were felt during the night and much smoke came
from the mountain. At one o’clock a subterranean noise and tremors were again evident.
In the evening a meeting of prominent residents was convened to consider the situation on
Ternate. In the late afternoon the mountain smoked profusely, with a rather strong glare.
Saturday, February 22. During the night a few shocks were again felt, and the
mountain continued to send up thick clouds of smoke.
A delegation was sent to the Sultan of Ternate and to the Captain of the Chinese to
discussed the situation on Ternate. The delegation consisted of Mr. Otto, Magistrate and
Fiskaal, and Mr. van Duijvenbode, Captain of the citizens. [p. 343]
today.
At one o’clock the Sultan of Tidore left for a few days. A few shocks were felt again
Sunday, February 23. Heavy rains lashed the island all night long and a strong
wind blew. A few shocks were felt during the day.
This evening I met with the Sultan of Ternate to discuss the evacuation of Ternate.
His Highness strongly objected, but in the end was prepared to follow the lead of the
Government.
Monday, February 24. At half past eleven a rather severe shock occurred which was
even felt on board H.M. corvette Nihalenia. The captain, therefore, sent one of his officers
ashore to render assistance in the event it was necessary. There were occasional light
shocks during the day and, as usual, smoke continued to be emitted from the crater.
Tuesday, February 25. The delegation left for Dodinga at six o’clock in the morning
to see if there was a suitable place on Jailolo to which the administration could be moved.
I sailed with the Captain of H.M. corvette Nihalenia to the northern part of the
island to see whether the crater of the mountain had undergone any changes; it seemed to
us that, besides the old opening in the edge of the crater, through which the lava had flowed
during the eruption on the 2nd of this month, cracks had formed which were also emitting
smoke, and that the three hills 2 which formed the top of the mountain had become higher
and more pointed. [p. 344] This may be attributed to the stones and ashes which were
thrown upward during the eruption.
2 [p. 343, n. 1] There are several peaks, or rather, hilly elevations on the peak, named as follows:
Mekah, or the peak proper in the west; Medina, a mountain ridge running from south to east;
Terkan in the southwest; and Kaf or Wakaf in the north. This last one, slightly higher than the
peak, is the wall of the crater. The names given by van der Crab in Note 13 of the “History of
Ternate” (Tijdschrift van het Koninklijk Instituut IV, 2:381 ff.) are incorrect.
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